Abdul Malik Mujahid

I used to be asked this question in Pakistan as well: are you Pakistani first or Muslim first? Yet, it has always made me uncomfortable, it forces you to feel that the two: religious and national identity, are somehow mutually exclusive.

Profiling is here to stay. While fighting it is a noble cause, learning to deal with it is a daily requirement. Here are some tips to keep in mind to better prepare for "traveling while Muslim".

Sharia is not a word Muslims use on a daily basis in their lives. Actually, until the recent Sharia debate, most Muslim Americans may not have used this term more than a couple of times in their lives.

Everyone else is talking about Sharia. It’s about time we did! Thar is why we introduced Shariah 101, a project to articulate Muslim American perspectives on Sharia. It will raise awareness about Sharia or Islamic law, in the American context. 

She was also a reformer. She did not like associating anyone with God. When she refused to prostrate (sajdah) to the grave of a family elder as women in that village used to do, she was called a “wahhabi.” But this hanafi woman did not budge.

While Muslims love and deeply respect Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, others regularly heap abuse on him in ways that are very painful for Muslims to bear. This requires patience and fortitude.

Every year, we witness family and friends making resolutions to change for the better: “I will lose 20 lbs”; “I will start praying regularly”; “I will spend more time with the kids”; “I will seek a more fulfilling career”. But most of us stop at this stage, not planning in detail how we will reach our goals